Sunday 20 January 2013

Creativity

I have been out of the classroom and a Vice Principal for three years and found the creative process needed to produce this video very challenging.  In my former life, as a classroom teacher, I created both video and slide presentations on a regular basis.  I used technology daily in both my personal and professional life. My move to Admin came with a personal belief that technology is the way of the future but I am no longer using many of the creative aspects.

When I saw this challenge and I thought, "Well this doesn't sound that bad."  Then I began to think about making a video.  I went online and looked at some of the work and began to panic.  I looked at my pictures files to trying to find a set to speak about me.  I located some pictures but ideas about what to do with them stalled.

.........Four days later I came up with an idea.   I'm all about thinking time and allowing students 'wait time' when discussing their thinking.  My idea of 'thinking time' and 'wait time' has undergone a significant adjustment. As Elmore says, "we learn to do the work by doing the work." We all need to experience just how difficult 'being creative' is and how much 'time wasting' is 'thinking time.'   Intellectually, I knew that creativity on demand was difficult, but until I actually had to do it, I did not appreciate the complexity.

4 comments:

  1. I can certainly attest to "driving in the dark", too. This was a great introduction, Erica. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. It is so cool to see an introduction that I can SO identify with. I also love the connection you made with Elmore: You learn to do the work by doing the work. That is the most powerful discovery for me this week. I am learning more about learning by learning!

    This reminds me of my first eLearning Regional meeting in Thunder Bay. All the women who were DeLCs were discussing their favourite iPhone app, and guess what it was? The flashlight! Northern realities, eh?

    I drive about 2 hours in the dark every work day, and even just loading everything into the car for the back and forth journey in the dark is an adventure! Congratulations on a terrific posting. I am looking forward to more!

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  3. I love the "driving in the dark" metaphor in your video. I can identify both figuratively and literally. Good blog post too. I'm currently in the "thinking time" phase for my introduction. But there is a possibility that instead of thinking I'm avoiding the project because I don't know where to start. That's certainly something I see our students do and perhaps once I overcome my issues it will help me help them with getting started. Anyway, enjoy your ETMOOC journey. Hopefully, as the days get longer there will be less time spent in the dark and your journey will become enlightened.

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  4. Cool video Erika ~ good for you! Like Jenni, I really appreciate your comparison between learning about technology and driving in the dark. Fortunately, there are so many of us learning together & hopefully we can help each other when we need a little boost. I wish there was a day when a bunch of us could share some of the things we've been able to figure out -- until then, we'll have our blogs & twitter!

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